The Assessment of Optimism and Pessimism among University Students: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study between Kuwaiti and Omani Students

Abstract

The present study aimed at examining both cultural and gender differences in optimism and pessimism among university undergraduates from Kuwait University, Kuwait and Sultan Qaboos University, Oman thought testing three hypotheses. The Arabic Scale of Optimism and Pessimism (ASOP), was administered to two independent samples of undergraduates, comprising (900) students from Kuwait University, and (900) students from Sultan Qaboos University. Results revels significant cultural differences were found in Optimism in which Oman’s scored be higher than the Kuwaitis on the Optimism scale, while there were no significant cultural differences in Pessimism. Moreover, significant gender differences in Optimism were found among the respondents with males scoring higher than the females, and no significant gender differences in Pessimism. Moreover, the interaction between Culture and Gender on Optimism and Pessimism were not significant. The implications of the findings were discussed, with some recommendations.